Oh, and have we heard anything about whether the PS/SG/WP status miles bonuses etc etc will apply when flying on EK (on an EK flight number)?!?

Both sides keep saying things like "recognition of tier status is a core part of the partnership as a principle is to treat each other’s customers as our own", but only if such things are standardised (i.e. you get this no matter which of the two you are flying with) would that actually be fact rather than propaganda.